Health & Safety Report 2013

HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT 2013

1 Foreword Welcome to the 2013 Oil & Gas UK Health & Safety Report . The report builds on the 2012 edition by providing commentary on the industry’s safety performance and on the range of health and safety issues and activities driving or affecting that performance in the reporting period. The industry’s safety performance continues to show encouraging improvement across the range of relevant metrics. We are pleased to report no fatalities in the period and to be able to point to year-on-year improvement in the frequencies of injuries and dangerous occurrences. Of particular note is the 48 per cent reduction in the numbers of reportable hydrocarbon releases, just short of the target set by the industry in 2010 to halve releases over a three-year period. Despite these welcome improvements, the industry is not complacent and remains vigilant and focused on sustaining good levels of health and safety provision and performance. This report is published in the 25th anniversary year of the Piper Alpha disaster, which serves as a reminder that offshore oil and gas exploration and production is a major hazard industry that continues to test to the limits our ability to manage inherent hazards and to prevent major accident events. Although the helicopter incidents incurred no serious injuries to people, they did result in a decision to suspend flights involving EC225 aircraft types pending investigation to establish and deal with root cause failures. The operational impact of that suspension has been significant and continues to challenge the industry’s flexibility and resilience. As this report goes to press, work continues to ensure a safe return of the EC225s to service and to restore the full UK helicopter fleet capability. The Elgin G4 well control incident presented challenges to the operator, Total E&P UK Ltd, in terms of their emergency response management, well kill operations and post-incident restoration programme. The event resulted in a lengthy field shutdown and a costly recovery exercise. It also caused the industry to reflect again on how it manages its high pressure, high temperature well inventory and work is still ongoing to review and improve such operations as necessary. Total reacted with commendable speed to ensure the safety of the people on the installation with a swift and successful evacuation. The safe and efficient rescue of personnel in this, as well as the two helicopter incidents, is testament to the extensive training our offshore workers regularly undergo to prepare for and respond to these emergency situations. The proposed EU Regulation of offshore oil and gas safety continued to exercise Oil & Gas UK and its member companies. Oil & Gas UK adopted a leading advocacy position in contesting the draft Regulation as part of a well-marshalled challenge that saw the industry, regulators and trade unions unite behind the common cause of ensuring appropriate, fit-for-purpose EU legislation that does not impair our existing world-class regulatory framework. In terms of health and safety incidents in 2012, two occurrences dominate, namely the two separate helicopter ditching incidents and the Elgin G4 well control incident.

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